This timeline of artificial satellites and space probes includes uncrewed spacecraft including technology demonstrators, observatories, lunar probes, and interplanetary probes. First satellites from each country are included. Not included are most Earth science satellites, commercial satellites or crewed missions.
Timeline
1950s Artificial satellites and space probes in the 1950s Year Date Origin Name Launch vehicle Status Description Mass 1957 October 4 Sputnik 1 Sputnik-PS The first human-made object to orbit Earth. 83.6 kg (183.9 lb) November 3 Sputnik 2 Sputnik-PS The first satellite to carry a living animal, a dog named Laika. 508 kg (1,118 lb) December 6 Vanguard 1A Vanguard TV-3 The first stage engine was improperly started, causing the vehicle to fall back to the launch pad immediately after launch and explode.1.36 kg (2.99 lb)1958 February 1 Explorer 1 Juno I The first American satellite in space. 13.91 kg (30.66 lb) February 5 Vanguard 1B Vanguard TV-3BU Control failure caused vehicle breakup at T+57 seconds as vehicle exceeded an angle of attack of 45° due to a control system malfunction. 1.36 kg (2.99 lb) March 5 Explorer 2 Juno I Failed to orbit. Fourth stage did not ignite. 14.52 kg (31.94 lb) March 17 Vanguard 1C Vanguard TV-4 Vanguard 1. Expected to de-orbit in ~2240AD, this and its upper launch stage are the oldest human-made objects in space. Also the first use of solar cells to power a satellite. 1.47 kg (3.25 lb) March 26 Explorer 3 Juno I Added to data received by Explorer 1. 14.1 kg (31.0 lb) April 29 Vanguard 2A Vanguard TV-5 Second stage shutdown sequence not completed, preventing proper 3rd stage separation and firing. Did not reach orbit. 9.98 kg (21.96 lb) May 15 Sputnik 3 Sputnik Contained 12 instruments for a wide range of upper atmosphere tests. 1,327 kg (2,926 lb) May 28 Vanguard 2B Vanguard SLV-1 The first production model of the series. Nominal flight until a guidance error was encountered on second stage burnout. Did not reach orbit. 9.98 kg (21.96 lb)June 26 Vanguard 2C Vanguard SLV-2 Premature second stage cutoff prevented third stage operation. Did not reach orbit. 9.98 kg (21.96 lb) July 26 Explorer 4 Juno I Expanded data set of previous Explorer missions and collected data from Argus high-altitude nuclear explosions. 11.7 kg (25.8 lb) August 17 Pioneer 0 Thor-Able 1 Failed to orbit. First stage engine failure caused explosion at T+77 seconds. 38 kg (84 lb) August 24 Explorer 5 Juno I On-board instruments damaged on first stage separation. Failed to orbit. 11.7 kg (25.8 lb) September 26 Vanguard 2D Vanguard SLV-3 Second stage under-performed, lacking only ~76 m/s (~250 fps) required to achieve orbit. 10.6 kg (23.3 lb) October 11 Pioneer 1 Thor-Able 1 First spacecraft launched by NASA. Studied Earth's magnetic fields. Third stage provided insufficient thrust to reach the Moon, leaving it sub-orbital. 38 kg (84 lb) October 22 Beacon 1 Juno I A thin plastic sphere (12-feet in diameter) intended to study atmosphere density. Payload dropped due to rotational vibrations. 4.2 kg (9.2 lb) November 8 Pioneer 2 Thor-Able 1 Briefly provided further data on Earth's magnetic field. Third stage provided insufficient thrust to reach the vicinity of the Moon. 38 kg (83 lb) December 6 Pioneer 3 Juno II Did not reach the Moon as intended, but discovered a second radiation belt around Earth. 5.9 kg (13.0 lb)1959 January 2 Luna 1 Luna The first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon, and the first spacecraft to be placed in heliocentric orbit. 361 kg (794.2 lb)January 21Discoverer ZeroThor-Agena AAccessory rockets ignited on pad during fueling. Part of Corona satellite development program. Upper stage consisted entirely of dummy components.618 kg (1362.5 lb) February 17 Vanguard 2E Vanguard SLV-4 Vanguard 2. Measured cloud cover. First attempted photo of Earth from a satellite; precession motion resulted in difficulty interpreting data (see first images of Earth from space). 10.8 kg (23.7 lb)February 28Discoverer 1Thor-Agena AReached orbit with an apogee of 605 miles and a perigee of 99 miles. First spacecraft placed in polar orbit. Part of Corona satellite development program.618 kg (1362.5 lb) March 3 Pioneer 4 Juno II Passed within 60,030 km (37,300 mi) of the Moon into a heliocentric orbit, returning excellent radiation data. 6.1 kg (13.4 lb) April 13 Vanguard 3A Vanguard SLV-5 Failed to orbit. Second stage hydraulics failure led to loss of control, damaged at launch. Two spheres included as payload. 10.3 kg (22.7 lb)April 13Discoverer 2Thor-Agena ASuccessful orbit, first satellite to be stabilized in orbit in all 3 axes. Recovery capsule ejected early, landed near Spitzbergen and was not recovered. Part of Corona satellite development program. 784 kg (1728 lb)June 3Discoverer 3Thor-Agena AFailed to reach orbit. Agena stage failed to produce thrust. Part of Corona satellite development program. Cover story was a biomedical study of 4 live mice onboard.843 kg (1858 lb) June 22 Vanguard 3B Vanguard SLV-6 Failed to orbit. Second stage exploded due to stuck helium vent valve. Intended to measure weather effects related to solar-Earth heating processes. 10.3 kg (22.7 lb)June 25Discoverer 4Thor-Agena AFailed to reach orbit. Agena stage failed to produce thrust. Part of Corona satellite development program. First satellite to contain full Corona optics. Also known as Corona 9001.870 kg (1920 lb) July 16 Explorer S-1 Juno II Did not achieve orbit. Guidance system power malfunction. Destroyed by range safety officer at T+5.5s. 41.5 kg (91.3 lb) August 7 Explorer 6 Thor-Able 3 Included instruments to study particles and meteorology. 64.4 kg (141.7 lb)August 13Discoverer 5Thor-Agena ASuccessfully reached 193 kilometers (120 mi) x 353 kilometers (219 mi) polar orbit. Camera failed after first orbit. Recovery capsule boosted into higher orbit and was not recovered. Also known as Corona 9002870 kg (1920 lb) August 14 Beacon 2 Juno II Premature cutoff of first stage caused upper stage malfunction. 4.5 kg (9.9 lb)August 19Discoverer 6Thor-Agena ASuccessfully reached 212 kilometers (132 mi) x 848 kilometers (527 mi) polar orbit. Camera failed after second orbit. Recovery capsule was not recovered. Also known as Corona 9003870 kg (1920 lb) September 12 Luna 2 Luna The first spacecraft to reach the surface of the Moon, and the first human-made object to land on another celestial body. 390.2 kg (858.4 lb) September 18 Vanguard 3 Vanguard TV-4BU Incorporated Allegany Ballistics Laboratory X248 A2 as third stage. Solar-powered sphere measured radiation belts and micrometeorite impacts. 22.7 kg (50.0 lb) October 4 Luna 3 Luna The first mission to photograph the far side of the Moon. 278.5 kg (614 lb) October 13 Explorer 7 Juno II Provided data on energetic particles, radiation, and magnetic storms. Also recorded the first micrometeorite penetration of a sensor. 41.5 kg (69.4 lb)November 7Discoverer 7Thor-Agena ASuccessfully reached 159 kilometers (99 mi) x 847 kilometers (526 mi) polar orbit. Recovery capsule failed to separate. Also known as Corona 9004920 kg (2030 lb)November 20Discoverer 8Thor-Agena ASuccessfully reached 187 kilometers (116 mi) x 1,679 kilometers (1,043 mi) polar orbit. Film broken during operation. Recovery capsule correctly separated and re-entered. Parachute failed to open and capsule was not recovered. Also known as Corona 9005.835 kg (1841 lb) November 26 Pioneer P-3 Atlas-Able 20 Lunar orbiter probe; payload shroud failed at T+45 seconds, resulting in disintegration of upper stages and payload. 168.7 kg (371.1 lb)
1960s